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First episode schizophrenia in general practice: a national survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Blanaid Gavin ,
Walter Cullen ,
Brian O'Donoghue ,
Juan Carlos Ascencio-Lane ,
Gerard Bury  and
Eadbhard O'Callaghan
Blanaid Gavin
Affiliation:
St John of God Hospital, Stillorgan Co Dublin, Ireland
Walter Cullen
Affiliation:
Department of General Practice, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
Brian O'Donoghue
Affiliation:
Department of General Practice and Department of Psychiatry, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
Juan Carlos Ascencio-Lane
Affiliation:
Department of General Practice and Department of Psychiatry, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
Gerard Bury
Affiliation:
DELTA/DETECT, Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, 1 Marine Tee, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, Ireland
Eadbhard O'Callaghan
Affiliation:
Hospital Order of St John of God, Cluain Mhuire Service, Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, and DELTA/DETECT, Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, 1 Marine Tee, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, Ireland
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Abstract

Objective: We sought to establish the views of general practitioners about detecting and managing patients with a first episode of schizophrenia in Ireland.

Method: Twenty per cent of GPs were invited to participate in a cross-sectional postal survey.

Results: Sixty-two per cent (n = 261) participated. Almost all (99.2%) see at least one case of suspected first episode schizophrenia annually. The most commonly (80.7%) encountered symptom is ‘bizarre behaviour’. Many (47.7%) rarely or never prescribe antipsychotics to patients whom they suspect have a first episode of schizophrenia. However, 80.6% of GPs reported that they ‘always’ refer this group of patients to psychiatric services. Over half (57.8%) advised patients with schizophrenia to continue medication for less than a year. A large number of respondents reported that it is difficult to obtain a rapid psychiatric assessment.

Conclusions: GPs want more information about identifying early psychosis, a closer liaison with psychiatric services and a rapid intervention service.

Keywords

General practitionersFirst episodeSchizophreniaPsychiatric servicesAntipsychotics
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , March 2006 , pp. 6 - 9
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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